Several consulting firms have sprung up nationwide, attempting to advise amateur and professional athletes and coaches on such topics as dealing with the media, interacting with fans and making public speeches.

Former WGN-AM sports anchor Randy Minkoff and his wife, Sue Castorino, travel the country making presentations to college athletes on behalf of their firm, the Speaking Specialists. They also have worked with several prominent college and professional sports figures in Chicago.

"It is a growing market and most players and coaches understand the importance of communicating well with the media," Minkoff says.

Medicine man: Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton says he would like to spend some time with struggling second-year Bears back Rashaan Salaam. But Payton says he does not want to appear to be "meddling." He would offer Salaam advice only if he asked for it.

"There are certain things and there are certain intangibles that you just can't coach. And he has that," Payton told WGN-AM's Glen Kozlowski and Ron Rivera. "It's just a matter of bringing them out. It's kind of like a little kid who has an upset stomach. You have to give him castor oil. The castor oil . . . he doesn't like because it tastes so bad. But once he tastes the castor oil and sees how good he feels from the stomachache subsiding, then he's able to enjoy it. And I think that's what he needs to do."

The interview airs before Sunday's Bears-Packers game.

Confidence factor: The Bears are not lacking for confidence entering Sunday's game in Green Bay, even though the Packers have won five straight against them.

"We have so many things to show a quarterback that it's going to be so hard for an offensive line to know where we're coming from," says defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman. "That's the reason we're giving so much heat. And we're just going to continue to do so."

Wide receiver Curtis Conway adds: "We feel we can go in there and beat them. If we go in there with a negative attitude, then that's a loss already."

The Bears' 31-point outburst against Detroit featured a career-best 122 yards rushing by Raymont Harris and 219 yards passing by Dave Krieg. The entire offense appeared less tentative and more confident.

"I don't think (the confidence) has ever decreased," says Bears tackle James "Big Cat" Williams. "We always have been confident in ourselves. It's just that little things here and there have gone wrong. It has never been a point of confidence. Just execution."

Sports hot line: Tickets to the DIRECTV Great Eight Basketball Festival on Tuesday and Wednesday at the United Center are on sale at the UC box office and all TicketMaster outlets, or by calling 312-559-1212. . . . The finals of the United States Tennis Association Boys' 14 National Indoor Championships begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Mid-Town Tennis Club. Local players competing include nationally ranked Thomas Hanus from Palatine and Justin Kinney of Glen Ellyn. Matt McClure of Westchester and Sean Moran of Waukegan also are competing. . . . The Wolves host "Skate with the Wolves" to raise money for the Illinois Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 6 p.m. Monday at the Horizon. Call 312-236-4491 for more info.